Core i3-9100TE vs Core i7-6970HQ
Core i3-9100TE
Core i7-6970HQ
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Core i3-9100TE
Performance Per Dollar Core i7-6970HQ
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Core i3-9100TE | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks | ✅ Better multi-core power |
| Price | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Coffee Lake (2017−2019) / 14 nm) | 🛑 Legacy (Skylake (2015−2016) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Core i3-9100TE | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️ Higher cost ($60) | ✅ More affordable ($0) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Core i3-9100TE and Core i7-6970HQ
Core i3-9100TE
The Core i3-9100TE is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 1 April 2019 (6 years ago). It is based on the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.2 GHz. L3 cache: 6 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1151. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-2400. Passmark benchmark score: 4,589 points. Launch price was $69.
Core i7-6970HQ
The Core i7-6970HQ is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2 January 2016 (9 years ago). It is based on the Skylake (2015−2016) architecture. It features 4 cores and 8 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 3.7 GHz. L3 cache: 8 MB. L2 cache: 1 MB. Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1440. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR3, DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 4,632 points. Launch price was $623.
Processing Power
The Core i3-9100TE packs 4 cores / 4 threads, matching the Core i7-6970HQ's 4 cores. Boost clocks reach 3.2 GHz on the Core i3-9100TE versus 3.7 GHz on the Core i7-6970HQ — a 14.5% clock advantage for the Core i7-6970HQ (base: 2.2 GHz vs 2.8 GHz). The Core i3-9100TE uses the Coffee Lake (2017−2019) architecture (14 nm), while the Core i7-6970HQ uses Skylake (2015−2016) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Core i3-9100TE scores 4,589 against the Core i7-6970HQ's 4,632 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-6970HQ. L3 cache: 6 MB (total) on the Core i3-9100TE vs 8 MB on the Core i7-6970HQ.
| Feature | Core i3-9100TE | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4 | 4 / 8 |
| Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.7 GHz+16% |
| Base Clock | 2.2 GHz | 2.8 GHz+27% |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB (total) | 8 MB+33% |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1 MB+300% |
| Process | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Coffee Lake (2017−2019) | Skylake (2015−2016) |
| PassMark | 4,589 | 4,632 |
Memory & Platform
The Core i3-9100TE uses the LGA1151 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Core i7-6970HQ uses BGA1440 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Core i3-9100TE | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA1151 | BGA1440 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | DDR4-2400 | — |
| Max RAM Capacity | 64 GB | — |
| RAM Channels | 2 | — |
| ECC Support | ✅ | — |
| PCIe Lanes | 16 | — |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: VT-x (Core i3-9100TE) / not specified (Core i7-6970HQ). The Core i3-9100TE includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 630), while the Core i7-6970HQ requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-9100TE targets Embedded.
| Feature | Core i3-9100TE | Core i7-6970HQ |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | Yes | — |
| IGPU Model | UHD Graphics 630 | — |
| Unlocked | No | — |
| AVX-512 | No | — |
| Virtualization | VT-x | — |
| Target Use | Embedded | — |
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